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Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.

Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his award funds to good deeds.

In the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally winners that year they gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"The victory was ample," stated artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.